Mercury & Venus in Conjunction
Taken by Alan Dyer on January 10, 2015 @
City of Rocks State Park, NM
Click photo for larger image
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Camera Used: Canon Canon EOS 60D
Exposure Time: 3/10
Aperture: f/4.0
ISO: 400
Date Taken: 2015:01:10 21:16:55
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Details:
Here is Mercury in conjunction with Venus, from Saturday, January 10.
Mercury is the dimmer of the two objects in the colourful evening twilight, in the enchanted skies of New Mexico.
The landscape photo is a “normal” lens view of the scene. The "portrait" photo zooms in on the pair with a telephoto lens.
Mercury is nearing its greatest angle away from the Sun and will remain near Venus for the next week. So if skies are clear in the early evening, take a look. Mercury is very easy to sight with unaided eyes. If you have not see the innermost planet, this is a good chance to check it off your “to see” list as its proximity to Venus makes it easy to sight.
A fact to keep in mind: both planets have probes orbiting them, but both are nearing the end of their missions. Europe’s Venus Express has ended its mission and is about to make its final plunge into the dense Venusian atmosphere.
At Mercury, NASA’s Messenger probe has gained a small reprieve, with it now expecting to impact on Mercury at the end of April, a month later than expected.
Photographer's website:
http://www.amazingsky.net
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